Just one D-Day act of heroism
My father was a regular in the Royal Navy from the 30s to the 50s. He never spoke to me about the war. He was mentioned in Despatches in 1944 when he was an Acting Leading Seaman on Minesweeper HMS Lightfoot. The ship was undertaking Operation NEPTUNE, the naval phase of the allied invasion in Normandy. The family story is that he rowed across a minefield to rescue an airman who was in the water. I have recently investigated to find the details of his actions. The dispatch that appeared in The London Gazette on 26 December 1944 says "The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following appointment to the Distinguished Service Order and to approve the following Awards:- For gallantry, skill, determination and undaunted devotion to duty during the landing of Allied Forces on the coast of Normandy."
Admiralty Honours and Awards records confirm that my father was awarded a Mention in Despatches in recognition of his services in the Algerine Class Minesweeper HMS LIGHTFOOT undertaking Operation NEPTUNE, the naval phase of the allied invasion in Normandy. His name appeared amongst those announced in the London Gazette published on 26 December 1944 (Third Supplement to the London Gazette of 22 December 1944), LG No 36858 (pp 5915-5918), page 5917 for which the heading on page 5915 reads: "The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following appointment to the Distinguished Service Order and to approve the following Awards:- For gallantry, skill, determination and undaunted devotion to duty during the landing of Allied Forces on the coast of Normandy: Mention in Despatches Acting Leading Seaman James John Forsyth Hendry, C/JX. 155061 (Queenborough)."
